KEY POINTS:
Double-cab Ute sales are dropping. But they're still second only to small cars in New Zealand's new vehicle sales charts, and falling less than large or sports brackets.
Companies selling them say that it's because these workhorses double as family cars. Are they dreaming? We decided to find out.
This is Mitsubishi's 3.2-litre diesel double-cab 4WD Triton, now with an auto transmission.
The tray features four luggage attachments as standard, while our test example also had an after-market liner to protect the metal from all the paraphernalia for a three-day weekend of hiking, mountain biking and ski-ing.
With a toddler in tow. By golly, small people need a lot of stuff. Add a portable cot, high chair and stroller to any car boot and there's no space for luggage.
The Triton swallowed it all, with the bicycle rack on the optional ($541 plus fit) tow bar, although without the optional tonneau ($458 for the fabric plus fit or $2504 for a hard tonneau), we tucked valuables into the rear passenger space.
Riley's child seat faced backwards _ safer for him, although it meant we couldn't make eye contact. Mitsubishi says a forward-facing seat will fit, and there are tether strap anchors; we couldn't find them, and would recommend taking your child's seat to the dealer to check it fits before buying.
Both Riley and his mum approved the high-riding position of this Triton, and although we'd like a second water bottle-sized cup-holder there were no other complaints during the Auckland to Ohakune drive.
Yes, you're aware you're driving a big truck. But it's remarkably civilised on all but the tightest corners, assisted by an auto transmission that's well-matched to the this engine which, although not as smooth as those fitted to the modern Euro diesel generation, is refined enough not to annoy after long hours on the road. With CD or iPod plugged in, we were comfy enough on our five-hour drive.
More impressive was how well the luggage fared. Mitsubishi has paid attention to airflow over the cab, and not only was our stuff spared the worst of the intermittent rain showers, the looser covers on some items barely flapped.
There are down- sides to using a high- riding ute
as a fam- ily car.
Yes, you can take it off road; there's low range, a lockable diff
and decent ground clear- ance. But the latter means tray and seats
sit high _ good if you like the view out when driving; not so hot when you're unloading.
These things are also thirstier than conventional cars, hence our diesel choice, the Triton drinking 9.5l/100km during our trip.
This was less than the 9.9l claimed, but then we didn't do much around-town driving.
Overall, we proved Mitsubishi's contention that the Triton can comfortably double as a family car for those with active lifestyles.
But security would suggest adding a tonneau at purchase time.
